Pictures from Christmas 2008

Would you like to see some pictures I took on Christmas? Please go to my MySpace page, and look in my Christmas 2008 picture folder to see. You'll see pictures of my family including husband, my kids, my parents, my sisters and nieces and nephews. Aaron and Leah are my kids, and Meghan is Aaron's girlfriend.

Gifts and Gift Bags

I have been blessed this Christmas season with many unexpected gifts. I mean, I have gotten some nice things from some very nice people. I always try so hard to make my list of everyone I need to buy presents for, but then some people who I never would have thought to buy a gift for bring gifts to me. It is truly a special blessing. At first, I am tempted to think, oh no, they got me something and I don’t have anything for them. But then I realize that is not the reason they gave me a gift. They gave me a gift not because they felt obligated, but simply because they wanted to thank me for something or because they just wanted to give me a gift. I know these people are not going to read this blog, but I would like to say how much these thoughts have blessed my life this Christmas season, and I pray that God will bless each of them richly.

And every time I get one of these gifts, I get so excited about the gift bags! I recycle gift bags by using them for gifts that I give, and every time I get a present in a gift bag, I am thinking, oh goody, now I have another gift bag! Why am I this way? Is it because I was short on gift bags this year? I mean I could have gone to Wal Mart or Target and bought some gift bags, but no! I just re-use old gift bags. And then, if that is not weird enough, after all this I get super conservative about using them. I have them but I won’t use them because I think I might need it at some time in the future. I do this with other things also and I do not know why I always try to conserve things and not use them. What would really be the difference in using it now, or using it in the future?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Christmas has to be the most wonderful time of the year -- I know it's true because there's a song that says those very words! And I knew it was Christmastime when I got up this morning and all the bedroom doors were closed. That means my daughter and my son are both home. Our family is all together for several days. This could only happen at Christmas! My son's girlfriend was supposed to arrive today, but there were flight problems and now she won't be here until tomorrow. I hope all goes as planned and she makes it here on time so she can spend Christmas with our family.

Iron Bowl

This post won't mean much to you unless you are from Alabama. But I am an Alabama fan, that is the University of Alabama. Our team has had several bad years and our biggest rival, Auburn, has beat us for the past six years. This year is our year -- we are undefeated, ranked number one and next Saturday get to play in the SEC championship game. But the part that is better than any of those things is the fact that today, Alabama beat Auburn 36-0!! I am not a sports fanatic, but I am a die-hard Bama fan and all I can say is...................

ROLL TIDE!!!!

ROLL TIDE!!!!

ROLL TIDE!!!!

Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving Day and I have so much to be thankful for! I'm sure my list would be very similar to yours if I started naming all my blessings. I have a wonderful family, and last week my husband and I celebrated 28 years of marriage. We have a daughter who is such a great person and is working hard in college. I am so happy that she is with us today for Thanksgiving. We have a son who is using his creative gifts that God has given him and he's actually living his dream. He isn't with us today and I miss him so much, but he has a sweet and beautiful Christian girlfriend and I am happy that he's getting to spend the holiday with her family in Pennsylvania. He sent me a picture of the snow yesterday and said he's never experienced a white Thanksgiving before. Another thing I'm thankful for is that we have full time jobs, and part time jobs also. At work the other day I was talking to another employee and we were saying how we wished we were off that day. There was a client sitting there in the reception area and he heard us talking. He said that he just wished he had a job. I realized right then how blessed I am just to be able to work and pay bills and have all the "stuff" I have. But all of that cannot compare to having peace in your soul. Of everything I have, my greatest blessing today is the peace that passes understanding which comes directly from God and a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Today we will go to my parent's house for the traditional feast complete with turkey, my mom's homemade dressing, macaroni and cheese, peas, green beans, squash casserole, broccoli casserole, turnip greens, four layer delight and a lot more that I can't even remember. My sisters and some of their families will be there also. After that we'll go to my mother-in-law's house to see her for a while. I love this day and I love eating all that food. I just wish I wouldn't get full so quick and could eat more!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

Life is Busy

Life is just so busy! I miss my blogger buddies and I miss blogging! I hope you are all doing well and that you have a happy Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for! I don't know what happened, but I should have never written that Lazy River post back in February, because ever since then my life has gotten busier and busier and I can't seem to slow down. I'm ready to float again for a while!

I Love Jesus

I believe that sometimes Christians have doubts about their salvation and they begin to wonder if they are really saved. In fact, I think we’ve probably all experienced this feeling at some time or another. So, how do you know for sure if you’ve truly done all the right things that make you a Christian? The first thing to remember is that Jesus did everything that needs to be done. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves; it is only because of what Jesus has done for us through his death on the cross that we can have the hope of salvation and eternal life. We have to believe this and that takes faith. Ephesians 2:8 says, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. The Bible is the Word of God, and you can believe what it says!

What I’m about to say is just my opinion, so just take that for what it’s worth. I believe that if a person has truly been “saved” or “born again” or whatever term you want to use, it will be evidenced in the way they live their life. I don’t think you’ll be perfect all the time because we are still human and we mess up and make mistakes. But I do think that you will want to strive toward perfection and you will be disappointed in yourself when you do mess up and sin. I believe you will love the Lord so much that you will want to do the things you know will please him. Do remember when you first fell in love? When you are in love, you desire communication with that special person. You just can’t seem to get enough of them and you want to do special things for them, the things you know they like. You want to be with that person as much as possible, and you think about them all the time. That is sort of what it’s like when you love Jesus. You want to please him and do the right things just because you love him. I remember when I was a little kid and my parents took us to church every single Sunday morning and night. I thought it was so boring to have to sit through the sermon at church and I can remember thinking that when I grew up, I sure didn’t want to marry a preacher because then I would have to go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life. I guess I thought that after I got out from under my parents that I wouldn’t have to go to church anymore. But the funny thing is, I grew up and I didn’t marry a preacher, but I still go to church every Sunday, not because I have to or because anyone is making me, but because I want to! I desire to worship, praise, and to learn as much as I can about God, Jesus, and the Bible. I still have a long way to go but I plan to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Beach Trip

This past weekend, my husband and I took a little trip together. We drove down to Orange Beach, Alabama and stayed in a condo which is owned by my sister’s fiancé. It is a very nice condo with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. My sister has helped him decorate it really cute. Just behind it, there is a lagoon, or some kind of small body of water, and we were told that an alligator lives out there. The whole weekend we tried to see it, but he never came out while we were there. We didn’t do much during our weekend there, but we sure enjoyed just being lazy and lying out in the sun on the beach. The weather was so great, with high temperatures in the 70’s. It was my first time to go to the beach in the fall, and after always going in the hot, hot summertime, I think now in my older age, I might prefer the beach at this time of year. And you can’t go to the beach without eating some seafood, so we went out twice to seafood restaurants. I was still able to get my walking in by taking nice, long walks down the beach. I sure needed it after eating all that seafood!
I think our warm weather has finally ended for this year. It is actually cool enough out now to wear a light jacket. I love it! We haven’t had to turn on the heat in the house yet, but I’m sure that isn’t too far off. It started raining late yesterday afternoon and has continued through today. This morning was one of those days you just wish you didn’t have to go to work and could stay inside and enjoy a good book or something.
I’d like to do a little update on A Plea for Purging. For anyone new to this blog, that is the name of the Christian heavy metal band my son is in. The guys have been taking some time off the road, only doing weekend shows or a small tour once in a while. They’ve been working hard to write all the new music for their next CD with Facedown Records. Aaron said they have enough songs written now and they are practicing and getting ready to record at the end of next month. I guess they’ll start touring again after the Christmas holidays. I sure hope Aaron gets to come home for Christmas. I haven’t seen him in almost three months!

Block

I know I don't have writers block because I'm not a writer. So, I guess I just have "block". Maybe it is because I am always so busy and I never get to stop and think about what to write anymore. I do get to stop in and read some blogs once in a while but not nearly as often as I would like. I've seen the "Blogs that I Follow" on some of yours and I wondered where you got it. But now that I have finally signed in to my account, I just saw it. So I need to add that to mine also.

This is something really sad that happened about a week ago. It was a normal Friday, school day and then football game that night. A young girl, 13 years old, who was one of my husband's students, was in the high school band and the way I understand it they were getting ready to play at the football game that night. I think she was just socializing with friends when she suddenly collapsed. Just that fast, she was gone. She had been in school all day and everything was normal, and without any warning she just died. It's just one of those things we cannot begin to comprehend with our human minds. I can't. The next day my husband was grading papers and he showed me the paper she had done just a few hours before her death. He said she was a precious girl. I feel for her family right now and I know it's been a tough week for them.

When things like this happen, it is always a reminder to ask ourselves, "am I ready"? If today is my last day on this earth, or if Jesus comes back today, am I ready to go? Are you ready? Is there anything you would change in your life if you had 24 hours notice?

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14 (KJV)

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14 (NIV)

Footprints

I am involved in a women's mission group which meets once a month at my church. I decided to start going to it a little over a year ago because I felt out of touch with things going on at my own church since I play on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights at another church. I love both churches, but I didn't want to be completely out of the loop at my own church. So one of my friends was in this women's mission group and I thought it would be a good thing for me to be involved with. It has really been such a blessing and I've become more aware of the importance of mission work inside and outside of our country. When I went for our September meeting a couple of weeks ago, we had a speaker from a local ministry called Footprints. This is a ministry to families who have premature or sick babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units of our local hospitals. I am so excited about what they are doing because I know from experience what it's like to have a premature baby in NICU. (Read my story). The ministry has even expanded now beyond our local hospitals and there's no telling where the Lord will take it from here. Please take a look at the Footprints Ministry blog when you have a chance, and pray for the families who will learn about Jesus through their connections with the NICU and Footprints.

I am copying these verses from the Footprints Ministry's page -- they are the verses that spoke to the young lady who started the ministry when she felt the Lord leading her in this direction yet didn't know how she would do it.......

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like a morning fog-it's here a little while then it's gone. What you ought to say is if the Lord wants us to we will do this or that. Remember it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." James 5:14-15, 17

My Last Day

Today is my last day in my 40's! I can hardly believe it! Tomorrow, September 24, I start a new decade and I have to admit, I have not been looking forward to this. But what can you do except make the best of it. So, my husband is about to take me out tonight for my birthday dinner since Wednesday will be such a busy day for me with work, then the activities at the church where I play the piano. So, without much time for posting right now, please go back and read my post from last year, My Best Birthday Present. I have been so very blessed to share my birthday with my firstborn for the past 26 years! Aaron, in case you happen to read this, I love you and Happy Birthday tomorrow!

Blogging

Lately, my life has gotten so busy it seems, that I haven't had a chance to post. I apologize to my blogger friends if you are still even checking my site. I want to post but every day it seems like by the time I have worked all day, come home, walk, fix supper, eat and do a few things around the house, then it is time for me to go to bed. And believe me, I take my bedtime very seriously! I NEED my sleep and since I have to get up at 5:30 during the week, I try very hard to get in bed by 9:30. But just to update you on what's going on, I am still walking every day and have kept off the weight I lost. The days are getting shorter and shorter so I keep having to start my walk earlier to get back before dark. Pretty soon, it will be dark when I get home from work so I will only be able to walk on the treadmill. At work, I've had some changes, good changes, so I'm thankful for that! I won't go into it all here, but I will need to rely on the Lord to help me with the new responsibilities. My motto for my job and my life has always been from Colossians 3:23......
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

Destiny, Fate, or God's Will?

Do you believe if something is “meant to be” that it will automatically just happen when the time is right? Or do you believe that we have to take matters into our own hands and make things happen by our actions? Here are a couple of definitions of the word destiny: 1) an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future; 2) the ultimate agency that predetermines the course of events. Even though I never realized how I felt about this subject, now that I think about it I am realizing that I’ve always believed that if something is really “meant to be” then every choice a person makes will eventually lead them in the direction that will finally accomplish the event that was meant to happen. I know that many times when counseling my daughter when she’s had boyfriend problems, I have said to her “well, if it’s meant to be then it will happen.”

As a Christian, I can’t really separate things that are “meant to be” from the will of God. I think a lot of people use the words “destiny” or “fate” but Christians usually say “God’s will”. Do you think God automatically works out His will no matter what choices we make? It is all really mind-boggling to think about. I do believe that ultimately God will work things out for his purposes to be accomplished. What about the doctrines of predestination versus free-will? These are just some things that I think about sometimes and I would love to find out what others think about them.

Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Two Posts in One

1. Fay Came to Visit
Tropical Storm Fay made her way to our state and brought bunches of rain, wind, power outages and tornado warnings. Thankfully, we kept our power and didn't have any damage at our house, but I know a lot of people who did lose power for a while. I put my dogs in out of the storm overnight Saturday night. There is one little dog left at the house next door, some kind of poodle type dog. It rained all day long Saturday and the poor little thing had no dog house and no shelter during the storm. I couldn't bear to see it sitting in the middle of the yard out in that rain.
This morning Fay came back to dump a whole bunch more rain and caused tornado warnings right when everyone was driving to work. It's been interesting, but at least we don't have the drought any longer. And our temperatures have been so much better this summer than last summer when we had like 12 consecutive days over 100. I don't think the temps have even reached 100 this summer. Praise the Lord!

2. How I Spent My Time
This is just something I was thinking about when I was at the hairdresser's getting my hair highlighted tonight. I was thinking about all the time I spend on looking a certain way. This morning I spent about an hour and a half showering, fixing hair, putting on makeup, etc. Tonight I spent almost two hours at the salon getting my hair done, and later I will spend about 30 minutes on the treadmill. That's ridiculous!! When today is done I will have spent nearly 4 hours on trying to look good!
How much time did I spend today on my spiritual self -- reading the Bible and praying? Just something to think about.

Update on the Dogs

I'm sorry that I haven't put an update on the dog situation yet. In case anyone doesn't know what I'm talking about, it's about the post, "What Next" that I did almost two weeks ago. That morning I was telling about the next door neighbor's dog climbing the fence and getting into my yard with my dogs. Somehow, the dog got back into his own yard, but two more times that day, he came into our yard. That evening my husband went next door and told the people their dog was in our yard. The man wasn't home at the time, but the woman called him to come take care of the situation. He did come home and assured us that he would have someone come pick up this dog (in other words, he would get rid of it) and it wouldn't cause us any more problems. Sure enough, since that day I have not seen that dog again. They did still have one pit bull in their yard but it wasn't causing us any problems. However, in the last two or three days, I have not seen that one anymore, either. So, at this point, I am happy with the situation and I hope it stays this way!

Let's Play Tag!

I have been tagged three times lately by three different people, so I am going to try to catch up on these today. So, Kay, BP, and Liz here are my answers for the tag games.

Kay of Loop de Loops in La La Land tagged me for the first one -- I'm am supposed to list six quirky things about myself. One reason it has taken me so long to do this is because I've been trying to figure out what these six things will be. Here are the rules:
1) Link to the person who tagged me.
2) Mention the rules.
3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.
4) Tag six other blogger´s by linking to them.
5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

Six quirky things about me:
1. When my husband and I go for our walk, I have to have him on my left side. I can't stand for him to get on my right side.
2. On my bathroom counter I have a basket thingy for my makeup and another small plastic tray thing for my hot roller clips. While the counter can be a total mess and the makeup is just thrown into the makeup basket with no order whatsoever, I have to have every single roller clip in the other tray completely and perfectly lined up. I don't know why, but they have to be in perfect order.
3. I don't like tomatoes but I love salsa.

4. Every night when I go to bed I have to put an extra blanket on my side of the bed. But, it has to be turned the right direction -- the white side has to be down and the colored side up, and the end with the tag on it has to go toward my feet and not toward my face.

5. When I play the piano, I don't like for someone to turn pages for me -- I like to turn my own pages because no one else can turn them at exactly the right time for me.

6. Strongly scented candles or perfumes give me headaches.

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BP of Raindrops & Rainbows Tagged me for this one:
It’s a random tag, and here are the rules!
1.) Link to the person who ‘tagged’ you!
2.) Post the rules on your blog!
3.) List 6 random facts about yourself!
4.) Tag 6 people at the end of your post!
5.) Let each person know they have been tagged by commenting on their blog!
6.) Let the tagger know the entry is posted on your blog!

Six Random Facts About Me:

1. I love Mexican food -- could eat it every day.

2. I'm turning 50 on my next birthday.

3. I got to see Elvis Presley (the real one) in concert one time.

4. My middle name is Jo. My nickname given by hubby when we were dating is K-Jo and some family members still call me that.

5. I am the second of four daughters born to my parents.

6. Not proud of this but it did happen.....I had a little wild streak during my teenage years and was grounded most of tenth grade because of coming home late one night and I had been drinking beer. At that time I had not even turned 15 yet. Thank God for parents who wouldn't let something like that go unnoticed!

*One more I just thought of in honor of USA's Olympic swimming gold medalist -- when I was a teenager, I had a life-size poster of Mark Spitz wearing his red, white and blue swim suit and his 7 gold medals -- it was hanging on the back of my bedroom door.

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Now, for the last one, Liz of Kentucky Bound tagged me to do the 7 song tag. This is probably the easiest one for me since I love music.

The rules:
List 7 songs you are into right now. No matter what genre, whether they have words, or even if they are not any good, but they must be songs you are really into right now, shaping your summer. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs.Then tag 7 other people to see what they're listening to. (You don't have to do this, but if I can find the songs on You Tube I am going to add a link so you can listen to them if you'd like.)

1. You Are Everything - Matthew West

2. Only Hope - Switchfoot

3. Find You Waiting - Decemberadio

4. Open Arms - Journey

5. Hanging by a Moment - Lifehouse

6. Here Without You - Three Doors Down

7. Remembering - by KJo

I know I'm supposed to tag people, but it's taken me so long just to get this done I don't have time left to do the tagging. So, if you haven't done one of these games, please consider yourself tagged!

What Next?

I've heard of "blogging in real time", at least I think that is what it's called when you are writing about something as it is happening. And that's what I'm doing right now at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning when I should be sleeping late because it is my only day of the week that I don't have to be somewhere early in the morning. But, as I was in my bed I was hearing some kind of squeaking bark sound that made me get up and follow the sound. Hmmmm.....guess where the sound led me? It led me out my back door and to the yard of my next door neighbors. I can hear where the bark is coming from but I can't see it until I walk a little further out and look toward the back of their yard along the fence that runs between our yard and theirs. The little pit bull that seems to be the nicer one is barking at something in my yard, yet I can see my two dogs in their usual spots just having a leisurely morning. Nothing is bothering them and now I see it. The other pit bull that had come unchained in my last post is IN MY YARD. It is back there in the same yard with my dogs! So the other pit bull is barking because her pal has crossed the fence. Now what do I do? I'm going to let hubby handle it when he wakes up. Thankfully, the dog wasn't attacking my dogs or anything like that. But I just don't like this. Now that it knows how to get over here, it will be doing this all the time just like that other dog months back. Oh, I just got an idea! I think it is finally time for a nice, high privacy fence!

As I've been typing this I don't hear the barking anymore so I just got up and went out to look. I didn't see the dog so I don't know where it is now. But I just had a thought. I hope my husband can realize this also if he has to go and deal with the next door neighbors. We can handle this with anger toward them, or we can handle it with the love of Christ and then have the chance to witness to them. I think they would be more open to hearing about the love of Christ if we show love toward them in our attitudes. Sometimes, it is a challenge to do things the way they should be done as a Christian. But that is when we have to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit that lives inside us -- to help us do the things we aren't able to do in our own strength.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being... Ephesians 3:16

The Dogs Next Door (continued)

I really don't mean to get so caught up in the people who live next door to me and their dog situation, but here I go again. So, I mentioned before that they had two pit bulls in the backyard with one of the dogs being kept chained up under a tree with nowhere to go during storms. So, one day recently we noticed a third pit bull back there in a cage. But now, the first one that was chained up is gone and the third one was chained up. Thursday afternoon, we saw a humane officer's truck at their house and he put something in their mailbox. The next day, he was there again taking pictures and as we found out from him, investigating someone's claim of cruelty to animals. I found out that day that they also had a poodle tied up in the front yard behind the bushes and apparently someone saw it and called the humane officer to investigate. No one was answering the door so he waited for hours in their driveway until someone came home. But in the meantime we talked to him and I told him there was a dog chained up in the backyard also, but when he went back there to look at it, the dog had gotten loose and was running free in their backyard. Of course those dogs and my dogs all started barking at this man when he was near the backyard and at that time, the mean pit bull tried to climb the fence into the yard with my dogs! Thankfully, the man was able to stop the dog from climbing the fence, but he did ask me to put my dogs inside for a while. When someone finally came home next door, he talked to them and they told him they would chain the mean dog back up, but so far, it's still free in that backyard. It hasn't tried to come over the fence again that I know of. I'm just ready for this story to end. I hope the next time I write about it, I'll have some good news to share!

Another APFP Video

This is my son, Aaron, playing for A Plea for Purging last Saturday night.

Video from my Vacation

This was at A Plea for Purging's show last Saturday night. It's mostly showing the audience having a good time.

Back from Vacation

I have been on vacation for a few days and just got back. And I finally got to meet one of my blogger friends in person! Here's how it happened......My husband wanted to go to Kentucky to hear our son's band play this past weekend since it would be their last show on the road with their guitar player, Lyle. When I realized that my blogger friend Liz of Kentucky Bound lives near where the band was playing, I emailed her and we decided to meet. Liz and her husband drove into town after we arrived and we had a nice visit before the band arrived. I want to thank you Liz for taking time out of your day to spend with us -- we really enjoyed getting to meet you guys!! After that, Eddie and I went out to eat with the band and then we went to their show.

Next stop on our trip was the Smoky Mountains at Gatlinburg. We took the tent and camping stuff and stayed at a good campground right next to a little mountain river. Okay, maybe I'm not so fond of sleeping in a tent on an air mattress, but it really wasn't that bad especially being able to hear the water from the river just behind our tent. The first day there we went horseback riding. The second day we hiked a 2.7 mile trail up a mountain to see Rainbow Falls. We were pretty much wiped out after that! It was worth the hike because the waterfalls were beautiful, but my muscles are paying for it today! I'm sure glad I've already been walking a 2.3 mile walk most every day in my neighborhood, however, it is not the same as walking uphill the whole way. And today before we left, I walked around and shopped in Gatlinburg for a couple of hours. The rest of the day was spent driving home -- about a 7 hour drive. It was a nice trip and I thank God for safe travel! I will try to post some pictures soon.

Desires of the Heart

Have you ever wanted something so bad you could almost taste it? Well, I've never considered myself a "material girl" and have for the most part been content with what I have. But not too long ago I found something that I want so badly that I cannot stop thinking about it. It's almost like, "I have to have this!" I sit and think about what it would take to able to possess this desire of my heart and what the cost would be. It is exactly what I've wanted and always dreamed of having, yet when I think about the cost, I realize that it would cost much more than I want to pay. But at times I am almost willing to pay the high price plus all the extra expense that would come along with satisfying my desires. My dream house on six secluded, peaceful acres, with 3500 square feet, four bedrooms/three bathrooms, a pool and a hot tub, and covered porch all the way around the house is so very enticing! But what I have to remember is that I have a daughter in college and we're trying to keep from borrowing money for that, and my husband is not yet tenured at his teaching position because he changed counties two years ago. Also, this house is farther away from my job so I would have to pay a lot more in gas expenses to drive to work and to my church job. Plus, the house is almost twice the size of my current house which means heating and cooling costs would be much higher. So, what can I do? Pay the high price to have my dream come true, or wait and see what God has in store for me? I know what the right answer is. But why is it so hard to wait?

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Praise

Don't you just love getting compliments from other people? Of course you do! It makes me feel so good when someone tells me that I look good in a certain color, or they like my piano music, or when someone says that I have a sweet spirit. When someone praises us or gives us a compliment it builds us up and encourages us to try to continue doing whatever it was that initiated their uplifting comment. Because I know how good it makes me feel to get a compliment, I like to try and compliment other people so they can be encouraged.

The Bible teaches us to praise God and to give Him compliments. Years ago I was a part of Bible Study Fellowship and they taught us a form of praying that always starts with praise to God. Every day we need to tell God how wonderful He is, just because He is God and because he deserves our praise. God is awesome, powerful, almighty, loving and merciful. I could go on and on. Reading the book of Psalms is a good way to learn how to praise God. And then after we give Him the praise he desires and deserves, you will automatically start thanking Him for so many things. Not only will God be honored and glorified by our praise, but you will start feeling so much better and it will give you a much more positive outlook toward everything in your life!

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised. Psalm 113:3

One More Dog Comment

Okay, so maybe I'm not crazy about pit bulls living next door to me. But I really felt sorry for one of those dogs this weekend. We had some powerful thunderstorms with bunches of lightning that brought us some great rain that we needed. But one of those dogs is kept tied up under a tree at the back of that yard all the time. It had nowhere to go during those storms except under that tree. At one point it was trying so hard to get loose from that chain during the storm. It was barking and begging to be free. During another storm it was just huddled down under the tree getting soaked. I really felt sorry for that dog and I can't believe that anyone would treat their animal that way.

A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:10

This is Cool!

In my last post I told about Rush of Fools trailer and gear being stolen. Our local news channel carried the story last night and it is on their website. I thought this was so cool that the website story has Bible verses in it. Read it here. A friend just now told me that she watched the news this morning and that the trailer had been found. I'm not sure about all the equipment, but hopefully I will hear more soon.

Rush of Fools

A couple of days ago, Rush of Fools trailer was stolen. It had all their gear in it, so they've lost everything they need for playing music. Please pray for this band as they have to go back on the road next week -- they will need new equipment. Read their blog about to learn more about this. Wes Willis of Rush of Fools got married yesterday. It was a lovely wedding yet very simple with a relaxed atmosphere. I'm not sure how long they will leave it there, but at the moment there is a picture of Wes and Michelle on Rush of Fools my space page.

A Plea for Purging

There is a music festival called Cornerstone going on in Bushnell, Illinois. That's where A Plea for Purging is this week. I suppose you could compare Cornerstone to Woodstock, except that it's for Christian rock bands. My son and the guys in A Plea for Purging love going to this festival and look forward to it all year long. They will get to play several times this week and hopefully pick up some new fans, sell some merchandise, and tell some people about Jesus. Here is a list of the bands that will be playing there. I looked through the list and saw a couple of pretty famous names on there like David Crowder Band, Hawk Nelson, and Skillet, plus some others I have heard of. My nephew's band, Fall Empire Fall from Tampa, is also playing. Some other bands playing there have stayed at my house at different times and I would like to mention them -- Burden of a Day, Gwen Stacy, Once Nothing, With Blood Comes Cleansing, and there may be some others but I can't remember them all. But it is always an honor to wake up, leave my house for work and have to step over all the band guys sleeping on my den floor.

A Plea for Purging is on the Facedown Records label. I wish the guys a great week and some good times with all their friends!

Lifehouse's Everything Skit

If you haven't already seen this video, please watch it. Make sure to watch all the way to the end -- it is amazing!

My Fear

For anyone who has been reading this blog for a while, you might remember a post I did last September about my neighbor's dog. If you haven't read it or don't remember it, you can read it here.....Love Your Neighbor's Dog. Back then, I thought I had a problem. I wish this one was that simple.

Well, here is an update about the house next door. Those people moved out of the house but didn't sell it. They are renting the house to a young couple with two young children. The new people living there have now gotten some dogs and to me they look like pit bulls. I have heard too many stories of pit bulls attacking people or other animals, so I am not happy about this. I know that I shouldn't be living in fear, though I also believe that fear is not all bad. We need a certain amount of fear to keep us safe from harm, but I think my fear of vicious dogs goes beyond that. I am praying a lot about this situation. There are also other things I see going on at this house next door that have me concerned. I'm really having to trust God to help me with all this. I've noticed that when someone else is going through a difficult situation, it's so much easier for me to tell them to trust in God than it is for me to actually trust God when I'm going through a difficult situation.

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 56:3

Journey

I know I usually talk about Christian bands or music, but one of my favorite secular groups is Journey. I have loved them since the 80's and now they have a new singer that sounds so much like the former singer. I love this interview they did on CBS telling how they found the new guy.

Controversial?

I've made it known very clearly in my blog that I believe the Bible and that it is the Word of God. Therefore, if the Bible states something, then I believe it and to me there is no controversy. Some things aren't as clear as others, but this one leaves no question in my mind when I read these verses. It is as clear as black and white. I'm not the one who said it -- I'm just a Bible believer and if God says it through his word, then that settles it, no questions asked. I am not even going to type out the verses - but please look them up yourself and leave a comment with your thoughts. I doubt if anyone will leave comments because of the nature of this subject. But I would really like to know your thoughts. You can do it anonymously if you don't want your name in there. The focus verses are Romans 1:26-28, but please read verses 18-32 to get the full meaning.

There is always hope in Christ. I am certainly not pointing my finger at anyone for their sin, I just wanted to bring to light something in the Bible that is not talked about very often in this world. We are all sinners and maybe we haven't committed that sin, but we each have our own faults and failures which makes us no better than people who've committed the sins mentioned in the Romans verses. But one of my favorite verses of hope for every kind of sinner is in 1 Corinthians 6 where it names all kinds of sins and says that these kinds of people cannot inherit the kingdom of God, but then leaves us with the hope that comes only through Jesus. Here are the verses -- I love it!

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderes nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

One Year!

Today is my one year anniversary since starting this blog! I can't believe a year has already passed. I have really slowed down on my posts the past couple of months and I'm not really sure why. I think one reason is because I've quit doing blogging from work and when I get home in the evenings I'm just not in the mood. But I will try to continue to post at least once or twice a week. I've met some wonderful people through blogging and that, I believe, has been the very best part of this adventure. I hope that one day I can meet some of you in person!

Something to Say

I guess the reason we blog is because we feel like we have something to say and this is a good way to say it. I recently got the new Matthew West CD which is called "Something to Say" and it included a bonus DVD about what he recently had to go through. I guess it was about a year ago that he was getting ready to record the new CD and he began having trouble with his voice. He ended up going to the doctor, then had to be on voice rest, and then had to go through surgery on his vocal cords. For a musician, a singer whose life revolves around singing with that being his means to support his family, this was a really scary thing. If you have a chance to get the CD and watch the DVD, it's really good and you go right through the process with Matthew. It all served to draw him closer to God and to help him realize that God is the one who is in control. Go here to hear a clip from the documentary and click on "Nothing to Say Documentary" on the right-hand side of his page. Thankfully, he is able to sing again and the CD is out now.

I was able to relate to Matthew West because I am a musician. I don't know what I would do if my ability to play the piano was taken away from me. My husband could relate to him because he felt called to teach, and when he went through his illness he lost his voice and didn't know how he would ever be able to teach. So, if you have something important to say, be sure to say it while you are able, whether it is through music, speaking, blogging, or any other way. Through His Word, God gives each Christian something to say and we need to take advantage of the talents and gifts He has given us to be able to tell the world about Him.

2Co 4:13 - Show Context
It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak...

1Th 2:4 - Show Context
On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

What I've Been Doing

Last week I had the whole week off work for vacation. It was wonderful! We decided not to go on a trip since gas prices have gotten so high. Instead, we got new carpet in our bedroom. It's a huge room and was a major ordeal just to get prepared for the carpet. But now the room is nice and clean, and the carpet looks great. And my closet got cleaned out because it had to be carpeted also and I had to get everything out of the way.

Saturday I went to another family reunion, this time for my mother's side of the family. It was nice -- I saw relatives that I don't get to see often and I met some relatives for the first time. This week it's back to work which hasn't been so bad. The Alabama heat and humidity have come back full blast! I'm afraid my walking outside will soon be coming to an end. I'll have to start using the treadmill which I don't look forward to. I have good news about my walking experiment -- I have lost 10 pounds which was about the amount I was hoping to lose. I didn't have to change what I was eating -- I just had to be consistent with my daily walking. Now I'll need to continue it for the rest of my life if I want to stay at this weight. I actually now weigh what my drivers license says my weight is!

Friday Favorites

This is going to be about one of my favorite Bible verses and a personal testimony. When I was 15 years old, this verse helped to turn my life around. As a teenager, I was doing some things I knew a Christian person should not be doing. I won't go into detail about the things I was doing, but I always had this little nagging voice in my mind telling me that what I was doing was wrong. However, I wanted to do these things so I would try to find ways to justify doing it. I would tell myself that the Bible didn't specifically say not to do this particular thing. But then one summer I was at church youth camp and my pastor was speaking to us. He asked us if we knew a reason why we shouldn't do these kinds of things. And then he told us the reason why and he used this Bible verse to explain it. The verse was Colossians 3:17 -- And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him. As soon as he read that verse, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and showed me that I could not do the things I was doing in the name of the Lord. At that moment I changed and I had a desire to stop sinning and to let Jesus be the Lord of my life. The Bible is powerful and can speak God's word to us when nothing else can.

Fruit

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control... Galations 5:22-23

If you are looking at two trees that are bearing fruit, an apple tree and an orange tree, can you tell just by looking at them which one is the apple tree and which is the orange tree? Of course you can, because you know what apples and oranges look like. The evidence that a tree is an apple tree is that the fruit growing there are apples. The evidence that a tree is an orange tree is that the fruit growing on it are oranges. In the same way, if you are a Christian, people should be able to look at your life and recognize that you are a believer because of the fruit your life bears -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Not too long ago, someone described me as a "happy person". Hopefully, what they thought was happiness, was actually the joy that can only come from being in Christ. Being happy is dependent on circumstances around us, but joy is something God-given and it doesn't go away when life throws us difficult situations. What kind of fruit does your life bear?

Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. Luke 6:44

...for out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45b

Divine Design

What a great week it's been having A Plea for Purging and Jake at my house! It used to bother me that I am not a neat freak about my house, and I wished that I cared more about having a perfectly clean house all the time. But no matter how much I wanted to be that way, it just isn't in my nature to get all upset when the house gets messy. And now I have come to realize that God had a purpose in creating me the way He made me. It was by divine design that things can be messy and it doesn't bother me. God already knew that I was going to be having a bunch of guys staying at my house from time to time, and if I had been a neat freak, I wouldn't have been able to handle the sleeping bags laying around the floor, the luggage sitting around, unmade beds, laptops and cell phones plugged in everywhere, and towels hanging around. What I always thought was a flaw in my personality, I now see as a gift from my Creator for the purpose of doing what He created me to do. It has been a blessing to me and my husband having these guys stay at our house.

Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

Full House

There's a band at my house. Three of them have been here since Wednesday, and the rest of them came in Friday night. They eat a lot. We keep on having to go to the grocery store to stock up on more milk, sweet tea, and food. The drummer is playing his drums..............in the house. The guitar players are playing electric guitars in the garage and they have really big speakers that carry sound throughout the neighborhood. I wonder when the cops are going to show up at the door. We probably won't even hear them knock. The ones who weren't busy yesterday watched TV the whole afternoon and night -- the same show the whole day. The merch guy uses my computer pretty much anytime he's awake. My daughter came yesterday so she's sleeping on an air mattress in our room since her room has been taken. The band will be here for a few more days.

This is my life and I love it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Against all Hope

A few days ago I was reading the Bible and once again, something it said just jumped out at me and struck me in a way it never has before. "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed..." This was in the book of Romans and it was talking about how Abraham believed and had faith in something God told him would happen, even when it looked humanly and physically impossible! Abraham and his wife were well beyond the child-bearing age and Sarah had not been able to have a baby yet. He was 100 and she was 90. In my mind, there's no way this couple would be having a baby. But God told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and his descendants would be as many as the stars in the sky. Abraham didn't weaken in his faith and he believed that God had the power to do what he said he promised. And it happened -- Sarah gave birth in her old age and that was the beginning of the Jewish nation. God keeps his promises.

Do you sometimes have situations in your life that look completely hopeless? Remember Abraham's faith and belief in God's promise even when it didn't seem possible. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed. If God has promised us something in his Word, we need to have faith that he is able to keep his promise. I don't think this means that because we want something to be a certain way that it will happen just because we say we have faith. But I think it means that if God promised something in scripture, it will happen and we just have to have faith in his promises. Do you have any personal experiences where something looked hopeless, but God kept his promises?

...who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." Romans 4:18-22

Mommy Memories

I'm not sure if it's because Mother's Day is approaching or what, but today I am having one of those days when I think about my kids and miss the days when they were little. I talked to Aaron on the phone a few nights ago. He was so excited because he had driven the van through the night in Arizona and he saw a real live mountain lion in the wild. He said he first saw some elk and just a few minutes later he went around a curve and right in the middle of the road was a cougar. Then it ran off and up into the mountains. Aaron said he yelled and woke up all the other guys, but it all happened so fast they didn't get to see the cougar. But he was so happy the rest of the night just because he saw that animal!

As my son told me this story with all his enthusiasm, I was transported back in time. I was no longer listening to a 25 year old man with tattoos and earrings who plays the drums in a heavy metal band, but I was listening to (and seeing in my mind) a precious little boy who used to sit in the recliner with his Daddy while looking at the National Geographic Mammals book. That precious little boy spent many hours looking at those animal pictures and soaking up every bit of knowledge he could possibly get. He always loved learning and experiencing new things. Which is probably why he enjoys what he's doing right now. He is constantly seeing new places, meeting new people and experiencing life the way most of us never get to. But when I look at Aaron now, I still see my cute little boy with the active imagination, the love for learning and the charismatic personality that he's always had. I thank God for the memories I have -- my children may be far away from home and far from being little children anymore, but I will always have my memories.

Friday Favorites

Sandi wrote a great post this week. I just love this -- The Bible is my GPS!

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

It's All About Me

Wow, that title sounds really vain! Honestly I don't like that phrase, it's all about me. But, I took this personality quiz that I found on Kay's blog and here is what it said about me...

You seem to be far from having a Type A personality. Your attitude to life is more of the "smell the roses" kind. You know how and when to relax. The hostile, aggressive and competitive part of you surfaces rarely. You are easy to be around, and people tend to feel relaxed and comfortable in your presence. It's a very healthy attitude towards life. Just make sure you don't miss important opportunities because of being too cool and relaxed. Picking up a challenge and competing a little bit for your place in the sun can add some spice to your life.

I am pretty satisfied with that result! I just couldn't handle being a Type A personality. And I really do stop and smell the roses. During our walks, my husband and I pass this one house that has a sweet dog that's a lab, and they also have some beautiful roses planted right next to the sidewalk, so we stop and pet the dog and smell the roses! The downside of my personality is that I do sometimes miss important opportunities simply because of my procrastination and forgetfulness.

Here's the link to the quiz if you'd like to try it out! (I hope my sister who reads my blog will take it and let me know her results.)

Temptations

When I put the title of this post, I realized that I might get some hits from people searching for a singing group called the Temptations. But this isn't about a singing group, it's about sin and temptation. One thing my pastor always says about being a Christian and sinning is this.....I sin all I want to sin, in fact, I sin more than I want to sin. What he's really saying is that as a Christian he doesn't want to sin at all, but being human it happens sometimes and it happens a lot more than he wants it to. I can relate to that every time I hear him say it. I wish that I could live a perfect life and never do anything wrong but the fact is that I sin much too often. We are all tempted by different things. But the encouraging news is that the Bible says that God will not allow us to be tempted by more than we can handle, and that he will provide a way to escape the temptation so that it doesn't turn into sin. Being tempted is not sin, but what we do with that temptation is what's important. God gives us a way to escape the temptation, but the choice is ours at that point -- we either take the escape route or we go ahead and sin. I'm just thankful to know that whatever it is that tempts me is not going to be bigger than what I can handle. And if I end up sinning rather than escaping, then it's my own fault and my own choice and I will have to live with the consequences.

Another encouraging thing the Bible says is that Jesus is not a high priest who doesn't understand or sympathize with our weaknesses, but he does understand because he was tempted in all the same ways as we are. The difference is that Jesus never yielded to the temptation and he never sinned. But it's comforting to know that he understands what we are going through.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Blogging

I've wondered why sometimes bloggers just seem to disappear and don't post on their blogs for weeks at a time. I think I'm beginning to find out. I seem to have less and less time for blogging lately. Sometimes other things in life become more important and you just have to get your priorities in line. Maybe I can get back on track soon!

Creator and Creations

I've mentioned before that I enjoy writing music, mainly instrumental music. If anyone ever tried to steal the music I've written and claim it for their own, I don't think I'd have any trouble at all proving the music is mine. Each piece I've written was given a name. By just hearing the name, I can tell you almost everything about that piece of music. Without looking at it, I can tell you what key it's written in, how many sharps or flats is in its key signature, how many beats are in each measure, the time signature, the story behind the music and exactly what instruments I had in mind to play it. Or this could all be reversed -- if I heard the first measure of anything I've written, I could tell you the name of it as well as all the things I just listed. That's because I wrote the music; since I created it I know everything about it because it's special to me.

On a much larger scale, God created each and every person. He knows us by our name and he knows every little detail about us, much more detail than I know about my musical compositions. Satan tries to steal us away but he can't if we are in Christ. We have been bought with the blood of Christ and he is able to hold on to us. We belong to Him and He loves us. He knows the exact number of hairs on our heads at any given time of the day, He knows every thought we think, every place we visit, He knows the exact day, hour and minute of our birth, and He knows what will happen in our future. He even knew us before we were born. To me, these are comforting thoughts. It's comforting to know that we have a God who really knows us and loves us because we are his and He created us. And if He can know all of this about us, surely we can trust Him to take care of our needs and to take care of our children when they are out of our hands. God IS the one who is in control of this universe and He is more than able to take care of every situation in our lives.

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. Psalm 139:1-4

Walking Update

On March 12, I started a personal experiment of trying to walk 10,000 steps a day without changing my eating habits to see if I could lose a few pounds. You can read about it at "Losing Weight". I have done really well with increasing my daily exercise, and my husband has even joined in with me. It all started because I had an approaching doctor's appointment and I wanted to lose a few pounds before that time. I went for that appointment a week ago, and I got a good report -- I am very healthy! As far as the weight loss goes, I had lost four pounds in about six weeks. It doesn't sound like a lot, but I am only five feet tall, so each and every pound shows up on me. I am continuing to walk and am hoping to lose about five more pounds eventually. The doctor looked at his chart and said that my weight falls within the normal range and that I'm not overweight. That made me feel better, but I do still have my personal goal that I'd like to reach.

Reflections

Do you know, or are you one of those people who can never sit still? Some people seem to always have to be doing something or staying busy. I am not one of those. I have no problem with just doing nothing sometimes. In fact, I need that! When I have a weekend that is full of activities and I don't get my relax time, by Monday I feel like I didn't even have a weekend.

There is a river just a short walk from the office where I work. Each day on my break I walk down to the river for exercise, or to just sit and enjoy the solitude. Most of the time there is a breeze at the river and the water is usually flowing. However, on a rare occasion there will be absolutely no wind or breeze, and the water is completely still – so still that you can see a perfect reflection of the trees in the water. It is one of the most beautiful sights to see at the river. Since the first time I saw that, I always look now to see if I can see the reflection of the trees in the water, but usually the breeze moves the water so that I can't see the relection.

If our lives are constantly busy, always doing something, and we never sit, relax and meditate on God or on the Bible, I believe we miss hearing the Holy Spirit speaking to us and guiding us. Sometimes, we need to just sit still so the reflection of the Lord can be seen in our lives.

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

For this is what the Lord says: "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream.... Isaiah 66:12

Here is Rush of Fools singing "Peace Be Still".

Missing What You Never Had

Have you ever heard the expression that you “can’t miss what you never had”? Do you believe that statement? Can you miss something or someone you never had? I believe that you CAN miss what you never had. Some people may not even realize they are missing something, yet they are constantly looking for it. I notice that so many people don’t seem to have contentment in life. They are always looking for something new or someone new to fill the void that is ever present. They may become satisfied for a while, but then they start looking again and again trying to find that missing piece in their life. I honestly believe that most of the time, what these people are missing is a relationship with Christ, the God who created them. I can’t even imagine what life would be like without knowing the peace, the love and the contentment that comes from my relationship with Jesus Christ. If anyone reading this feels that you are missing something you never had, please start searching the Word of God. You may find exactly what you need to fill the void.

The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble. Proverbs 19:23

If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. Job 36:11

Dove Awards

Tomorrow night the Gospel Music Channel will broadcast the annual Dove Awards. This is kind of like the Grammys but it's for Christian music. I am so excited for one band that has been nominated for four different awards. Rush of Fools has been nominated for new artist of the year, pop/contemporary album of the year, their song “Undo” for pop/contemporary song of the year, and “Undo” for song of the year. The reason I'm happy for this group is because I know Wes Willis, the lead singer. He goes to my church. I don't know if they will win any of the awards because they are up against some of the best artists in Christian music like Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp, and they're up against Mandisa for new artist of the year. I hope I can find a way to watch this show, because I don't have that gospel music channel.

God Sees What We are Meant to Be

Last week, I posted my husband's story in his own words, about his battle with an illness that we thought was going to take his life. I wanted to say one more thing about that which he didn't include. That illness started in 1977 and I believe it was 1983 when he started to improve and was eventually able to get off all medication permanently. And now, in 2008, he has been able to work as a teacher for over 20 years, and he rarely even has to use any sick leave. He actually has enough built up right now to be able to retire a year and a half early. God is good, and he's worked a miracle in Eddie's life.

I noticed a line in a song by Matthew West today. The song is You Are Everything (click to listen), and that line says, "You're the one who looks at me and sees what I was meant to be." When our families and I looked at Eddie back then, we saw someone possibly without a future. But God saw the plans that he had for him to get well and to become everybody's favorite teacher. God saw the loving and supportive father that he was meant to be. The Bible says that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ -- not troubles, hardships, persecution, or anything else. No matter how bad things look sometimes, and no matter how much we mess up in our Christian lives, nothing can separate us from the love of God through Christ.

For I am convinced that neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38

Eddie's Story -- Conclusion (Part 3)

...continued from yesterday(scroll down for Parts 1 & 2)

Over the years Dr. Campbell would refer me to doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. They would do numerous tests on me as well, including blood work, numerous types of x-rays involving digestive organs. They also did a test where they stuck needles in certain areas of my body to test for muscle damage. Needless to say, this was no fun at all. They tried me on certain physical therapies on my hands since I was now experiencing contractures of my hands, making my hands resemble someone who had rheumatoid arthritis. The proctoscopic exam was nothing I would ever want done again either, as they would be checking for blood in the stools. The UAB doctors would eventually feel I was mostly showing the symptoms of scleroderma and lupus erythematosus.

I would also experience Raynaud’s phenomenon, a condition where your hands would not receive good circulation in cold weather, causing them to become numblike and quite pale. Another very peculiar activity would happen to my body. Little sores would develop deep under the skin of my hands and would work their way up to the surface. They would be painful. Calcium started accumulating in certain areas of my body, such as at the back of my forearms underneath near the elbows, and in my groin region. The groin region was probably where lymph nodes were present. These calcium deposits would start opening up, causing a white pasty material to ooze out. After a while, I would squeeze these areas, knowing what was about to happen.

One time I bumped the backside of my upper arm, and it caused an abscess there. Eventually that area would become painful, requiring a surgeon to open it up and clean it. It left a terrible open wound, looking much like a shark took a chunk out of my arm. It was horrible looking. But amazingly, my arm healed over time only leaving a small scar. And also surprising to me, it seemed that I began to feel much better. For months during 1982 I would go through the same nagging symptoms. I would wake up in the morning with a fever for some reason, and after I took some Ascriptin for the fever and it broke, I would then feel well enough to go to work. I was working back at Jackson Hospital again, by the way. After this incident with the abscess in my upper arm, the disease’s activity lessened considerably. It’s almost like my body needed to get something out of it with that experience.

The disease would end up changing the way I looked. It changed my facial appearance and even my hair color to some extent. The joint contractures in my hands remained. The upper body muscle damage remained. My voice was also affected. When the disease was very active, my voice would weaken during the day. I would begin the day talking with my normal voice, but as the day wore on my voice would weaken to a whisper even though I was trying to talk louder. My speech was also not very clear. My voice is much stronger now, but I still have the effects of the disease with my voice being different now.

I would like to feel that the Lord has miraculously healed me of the muscle disease. However, he left me with some evidence of the disease’s effects to remind me from what He has delivered me. I certainly hope I have become a stronger Christian as a result of this disease. I am so thankful to my wife, parents, friends, and church family for their prayers and encouragement over the years. Thank you, Lord, for working mightily in my life! May You receive all the glory!

Eddie's Story - The Diagnosis (Part 2)

continued from yesterday...(scroll down to read Part 1)

I decided to get an appointment with a civilian doctor since Maxwell would only let me see a physician’s aid. I became frustrated when all of the doctors’ offices I called said it would be a few months before their doctor could see me. My mom suggested I call Jackson Hospital and talk to the ladies I used to work with in Medical Records when I was in high school. As a part-time employee of Jackson Hospital, I had an employee doctor who would do a yearly physical for free. I called to see if they thought my former employee doctor would see me again at a much sooner time. Dr. Fred Campbell’s office was very accommodating, giving me an appointment right away with Dr. Fred Campbell.

I am a Christian, and this had to have been the Lord bringing Dr. Campbell back into my life. As I sat there on the examining table with only my shirt pulled off, Dr. Campbell right away noticed something suspicious about my upper body. He immediately suspected an autoimmune disease such as polymyositis or dermatomyositis. He wanted to admit to Jackson Hospital right away and start me on large doses of Prednisone, an anti-inflammatory drug that would help with what he suspected would be elevated enzymes indicating an autoimmune disorder.

I learned that an autoimmune disease is a condition where the body attacks certain parts of itself. It sends antibodies to certain parts of the body, destroying these targeted areas. My body was attacking the muscles especially.

The blood tests done would confirm Dr. Campbell’s admitting diagnosis. I had an active autoimmune disease going on inside my body. Large doses of Prednisone were administered by mouth, and this would prove effective in lowering the enzymes in question. I also had a muscle biopsy done on my calf muscle to verify the activity. It would also be positive of autoimmune activity.

I was discharged from Jackson Hospital after about a week in the hospital, feeling so much better about my situation now. I would now enter a new chapter with my muscle disease. I would now begin to show the side effects of the large dosage of Prednisone I was taking. I was feeling much better but beginning to gain considerable weight due to retaining fluid. I developed the characteristic “moon face” that accompanies the taking of Prednisone. I felt better but looked terrible. It would get to the point that I would no longer even recognize myself in the mirror. This can be quite alarming when you don’t even recognize yourself anymore. However, I am still hoping and praying for the Lord to heal me.

When you are only 21 years old, and your health is so poor as mine had become, it made me really trust the Lord more and more and really start to think more about spiritual matters in my life. The muscle disease was causing me to think more seriously about being a Christian.

I would end up becoming addicted to Prednisone. It can cause your adrenal glands - located on top of your kidneys – to become suppressed and quit producing the hormones they produce that your body needs. I would try to stop taking Prednisone several times, but would be met each time with terrible results. It would be like my body was an engine trying to run without any lubricant between the rubbing engine parts. It was extremely painful to say the least. I would receive temporary relief with a shot called ACTH at Dr. Campbell’s office. I would feel fantastic for about 1-2 days but the terrible pain would return. So I would end up taking the Prednisone again. I did take much smaller doses than initially – 5 mg daily – but couldn’t completely stop taking the medication. Eventually I would be able to stop taking Prednisone without the painful adverse effects.

to be continued...

Eddie's Story (Part 1)

I'd like to introduce you to my sweetheart and husband of 27 years. He is going to tell his story in his own words. This will be broken into several parts.

Eddie’s Disease Story

It was in the summer of 1977 when I began to notice some things about my body that didn’t seem quite right. I was nearly 20 years old at this time. I was on a summer missions trip to Michigan when I had an opportunity to lift some weights and was surprised to discover that I could not lift the weights like I used to be able to do. I just thought I was terribly out of shape at the time and passed it off. I also noticed that summer that the palms of my hands at times became itchy. And there was not the flexibility in my wrists when I leaned back on my hands.

I returned to Montgomery from Michigan in early August and was determined to try to get “back into shape.” I tried lifting weights at home but would encounter immediate severe headaches when doing military presses. I enrolled in a body conditioning class for the fall quarter at Auburn University at Montgomery. We ran, exercised, and lifted weights in that class. I became very concerned when I could not do any sit-ups, had difficulty with weights still, and my running was extremely slow. I then decided to go to the doctor to get checked.

As a military dependent, I had base privileges at Maxwell Air Force Base’s Hospital. I made an appointment and was only able to see a physician’s aid. He examined me and did some medical tests. I would later find out that the tests seemed to suggest to him that I had mononucleosis, the “kissing disease.” He suggested I take it easy and check back with him at a later time. This went on for months, all the while I am thinking I had mono.

Near the end of winter in early 1978, I went to practice softball with some of the men from church when my future father-in-law commented to me that I looked like I was running in slow motion when I ran the bases. We had played softball together in the past. So of course I became more concerned about my health situation, knowing that I was not getting better and did not feel mononucleosis was an accurate diagnosis of my condition.

I finally became so irritated with seeing only a physician’s aid that I demanded seeing a real doctor. Maxwell Hospital agreed to let me see an Internal Medicine doctor, Dr. Melida DeLerme, and admitted me to the hospital to do more intensive tests and also to do a bone marrow biopsy. I was beginning to think that we were going to find out what was really wrong with me finally. I spent a week in the Maxwell Hospital. They did numerous blood work tests and I endured the very painful bone marrow biopsy, feeling we were about to find out my problem. I was discharged a week later with the diagnosis “elevated liver enzymes” and was given an appointment to return in a month. It was the worst blow to my hopes. I was so upset. I was angry at the hospital and doctor for not being able to find out the cause for my symptoms. This was perhaps the lowest point I felt during the entire time before being correctly diagnosed. Needless to say, I was not a very pleasant person to be around that weekend.

I could not believe they could not find out what was wrong with me. At this time, I could not even lift my head up normally while lying in bed. I had to roll over sideways and then lift my head. My voice was becoming weaker as was the rest of my body. I was a very discouraged and desperate young man.

to be continued...

Sunrise

I was listening to the radio this morning and one line in a song stuck out to me. I can't remember the exact words but it said something like there would be no sunrise without a night. It made me start thinking about how beautiful the sunrise is. But there is no way we would get to experience the beauty and hope that comes each morning if there hadn't been a night of darkness before it. Life is like that sometimes. We have to sometimes go through experiences that are difficult -- like a long, dark night. While you're going through these things you feel like you'll never see the light of day again. But finally, like the sunrise, you come out on the other side and you can see the beauty of hope in the situation that once seemed hopeless. In the next two or three days, I would like to share with you a story of a long, dark night which actually lasted several years, and the beautiful sunrise of hope that followed.

....weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Friday Favorites

Today's post is dedicated to A Plea for Purging. I told my son the other day that I can't believe they have been doing this, touring, for as long as they have -- almost two years now! He said he couldn't believe it either. They've been featured in a couple of magazines and I picked out one of the articles as my favorite today. Read the review from HM Magazine. I would also like to list my favorite songs they do, starting with my very favorite as #1.

1. Slaying of the Serpantine Dragon
2. Death Has Been Swallowed Up in Victory
3. Resurrection of the Beast
4. While the Sparrow Sleeps
5. Hymn of Praise
6. Everything and Nothing

I love #6 "Everything and Nothing" because it has a few lines where all the guys sing together -- I mean real singing with a melody and everything! Here are the words the bro-choir sings.....

For your kingdom, for your glory

for your eyes to fall upon me.

My JESUS, My Savior

Do you watch the TV show, American Idol? I am a music lover, so I do watch the show on Tuesday nights because I love the singing. I did not watch it last night for their charity show called Idol Gives Back. But I found out that the contestants sang one of my favorite songs at the end, a Christian song! I couldn't believe it! So, I looked it up on You Tube and sure enough, they did. But, in the true Hollywood tradition, they left out one very important word, the second word of the song, and they replaced it with another word. They left out really the most important word of the whole song.........Jesus. The first line of the song should be, "My JESUS, my savior......" Anyway, here is the video of "Shout to the Lord" if you want to hear it.

Lust, Adultery and Murder

If you enjoy reading, you need to read this book! Let me give you a little taste of one of the story lines, which is amazingly similar to things we hear in the news pretty often. This very nice looking man who has a great career in a very high position sees a beautiful woman and becomes obsessed with her. He makes up his mind that he must have her and his lust gets out of control. He has his people to go and get her, and even though she's married to someone else who is fighting in the war, and he knows this, they sleep together and she becomes pregnant. After trying his best to cover up his transgression, his plan fails. The plan was to get her husband home from war to spend time with his wife so that he would think she got pregnant from him, her own husband. Since that didn't work, this successful man in the very high position makes sure the woman's husband gets killed at war so that he can marry the woman.

This book has it all, lust, sex, murder. The name of the book? The Holy Bible. The story I just told about is found in 2 Samuel and it is about King David, a man after God's own heart. David did some really bad things, but he found forgiveness in God. Hey, if there is hope for David, there's hope for us! Through Jesus Christ, we can find forgiveness for sin......any sin. He can cleanse us and give us abundant life.

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered..... Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. "Selah" Psalm 32:1; 5

To My Special Friends

I have met some of the most wonderful people through blogging. I have never seen you in person, and I have never spoken to you on the phone or verbally in any way. Yet, you have become so special to me and I feel so close to you that it's almost like we have been friends for many years. I have received emails from some of you requesting prayer for very real needs in your lives or in the lives of people close to you. I am so honored and yet humbled that you trust me in this way. What a blessing it has been to see answers to specific prayers. I thank God for bringing us all together through blogging.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Philippians 1:3

Beside Still Waters

I really need to post something new today. I just haven't had a chance. I have spent this weekend finishing the recording process of my CD. Now I have to wait until my son can do the last steps for me because I don't know how to do that part. The CD title suggestions some of you gave were really great and each one of them helped to get me thinking in other directions. Of course my husband also had ideas. I think the title we've chosen is going to be "Beside Still Waters." It references the 23rd Psalm and to me, that psalm represents peace and contentment. For those of you who expressed an interest in receiving a copy of this CD, I will just need an address so I can mail you one when it's done. You can send it to my email now, Kbeste@aol.com, or you can wait until I let you know that it is finished. I am so excited to finally be doing this and I can hardly wait to have it on a CD.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies : thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23

Springtime

My quest to exercise more by walking 10,000 steps a day has been made so much easier because of the arrival of springtime and daylight savings time. With extra daylight after getting home from work, I've been able to wait until hubby gets home from work so that we can walk together. And I just have to say that springtime in Alabama is absolutely beautiful! We have so enjoyed seeing everything blooming during our walks -- azaleas, tulips, dogwood trees, cherry trees. And the weather this time of year, at least for a couple of weeks, is perfect. So, we've been enjoying it while we can because we know by May, the heat will be here and it won't be as enjoyable.

There are some days that I can't walk outside because of various reasons, so at those times I have to resort to walking on the treadmill. To me, it is so much harder to do that because it's boring and the treadmill is so loud I can't hear the TV. But I have found the answer that makes treadmill walking time seem to pass more quickly, and helps me walk faster. I don't have an ipod, but I still have the old walkman CD player. I have found that putting in A Plea for Purging's CD makes me walk so fast and it keeps my attention because I'm listening to that fantastic drum-playing and the extraordinary guitar sounds so much that I don't even realize that I'm exercising. I would say, try it, but I think most of my readers can't handle this hard kind of music. And it's probably only a mother's love that makes me enjoy it. But it works for me and if you decide to try it, let me know if it helps your walking routine.

Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

I have lots of aunts, uncles and cousins. This week, another of my aunts left this earth and has gone to her heavenly home. I have just come from the funeral, so death is on my mind right now. I don't see death as a morbid subject, because it is really a part of life and something everyone has to deal with at some point. After hearing about my aunt's life, I feel comforted rather than sad. She had a Hope, the same Hope that I have. My aunt's hope was in Jesus and I believe with all my heart that today she is finally looking at her savior. I do feel sad, though, for her daughter because now both her parents and her only sibling are all gone.

I hope this doesn't seem disrespectful, but I enjoyed going to the visitation last night because I got to see relatives I haven't seen in a long time. Since my grandparents died, we don't get together anymore. I didn't realize how much I have missed some of my cousins, especially Randy. Randy is my age and his family lived next door to my family when we were growing up. He was my first playmate and he was like a brother to me back then. We played together all the time and I have great memories. We stayed somewhat close as teenagers, but as adults I rarely see him. But the best part is, we have a family reunion planned later this month so we will all be together again and this time I won't have to rush back to work. I will be able to visit cousins, their children, aunts and uncles as long as I want.

Something else that was really interesting for me was to see the different generations that have come from each set of parents (meaning from my dad's brothers and sister). It's amazing to see how one married couple and the way they live their lives affects all the generations to follow them. It's really something to think about.

Suggestions Needed

I feel like I've kinda neglected my blog lately, as well as reading other blogs. I've had several extra things going on which has kept me from having enough time to do everything. So this post will just be some miscellaneous thoughts.

One day last week I won tickets on the radio to our city's Riverfest. We have this really nice amphitheater by the river and Matthew West and Sonic Flood were to play there Saturday night. First, a local band played and then some guy talked for a while and then it was time for Matthew West. By that time it was raining, so we sat in the rain and listened to this great Christian singer/songwriter. If you listen to Christian radio at all, I'm sure you've heard some of his music. When he finished, Sonic Flood didn't get to play because it was raining harder and they cancelled the rest of the show because of "liability". I wanted to hear the band but I was also soaked and was glad to go home and get dry.

Yesterday, I was at work and it was around the time most people go to lunch. I got two phone calls from people who work there telling me they saw that my car had a flat tire. Thankfully, I work with some people who are very nice and several of the men offered to change the tire, and someone even took it to the tire place, had it repaired and brought it back to work and put it back on my car. Since my husband works 25 miles out of town, he was really grateful for this help.

Some of you might remember that I recorded a CD for my mother for Christmas. Well, I am now working on a new instrumental CD, but this one will be all original music written by me. That way, if I decide to sell it, I won't have any copyright issues to deal with because I own the copyright to all the music. I am having a great time arranging all the music because I'm playing all of it on my synthesizer. It has all kinds of sounds so sometimes I am using nature sounds in the background of the music. This music is all slow, soothing, relaxing music which would be great to play when you are trying to go to sleep. All I need is a title. Here are some of the titles of the songs on the CD -- Dreams Come True; Magical Sleep; Reflections; Lullaby; Solitude. There's more, but what I need is your help in coming up with a title. I would like for the title to give some idea of the purpose of the CD which is relaxation. I thought about something like "Dreamless Sleep". If you have a suggestion for a CD title, please leave me a comment with your idea. Anyone who gives a title suggestion will get one of my CD's if you want one.